What is Bamboo Rice?
Bamboo rice, also known as Mulayari, is a safe and lesser-known rice variety that, when it is at its last point, is grown from a dried bamboo shoot. When a bamboo shoot completes its life expectancy, it begins to flower in mass and produce seeds for the growth of new plants.
Bamboo belongs to the grass family, and other grasses such as wheat, rice, and so on are close to its inflorescence. Bamboo seeds also look very similar in size and shape to paddy rice seeds. These are bamboo rice seeds. It's just like any other rice variety, but as it is also called, bamboo rice or Mulayari are found to be highly nutritious.
Essentially, nutrition is due to the long time it takes for the plant to produce inflorescence. When cooked, the rice is checked to provide the best nutrition for children and adults as well. You'd see bamboo plants growing in clusters in deep Indian woods. These plants are durable and grow much higher to 8 ft tall and are juicy just like any other grass.
Indeed, for its health benefits, Ayurveda uses bamboo juice against asthma, cough, and liver cleansing. You may need to use a young plant to enjoy the benefits of bamboo juice. Young shoots of bamboo also have health advantages.
The medicinal property of bamboo shoots is taken as food in many parts of India. The Bamboo flowers are whitish red and have 1/3rd inch shaped seeds that look like barley seeds and are initially green in color. In Tamil, it is called Moongil Arisi.
How does it look?
You wouldn't miss the sight of young children and women of the tribes who live there collecting rice from below every bamboo grove you cross if you were to visit Wayanad Sanctuary in Kerala. For this, the area around the grove will be cleared, some will even spread a clean cloth around the grove and let the bamboo rice fall on it. In these regions, bamboo rice is a minor forest commodity and rights are granted to the indigenous tribes to harvest them. The main source of revenue for these tribes is the Mulayarisi or moongil arisi, which also serves as their main source of nutrition.
Bamboo rice is green in color and when harvested, tiny rice-shaped seeds are small. These are dried, like any other grain, to ensure that the excess moisture is extracted so that it can be stored easily. These grains become slightly wheatish in color until they have dried.
How is it different from other rice?
Bamboo rice resembles paddy rice in a striking way and tastes more like wheat. Bamboo rice, which is slightly sweet in taste and normally cooked like any other rice, is a perfect combination with any regular food we consume. When baked, the difference lies in its texture, which is often moist and sticky. When eaten, it is chewy. On the occasion of Pongal people prepare it as Khichdi and many love to prepare bamboo rice kheer for celebrating events. With traditional dal and other Indian curries, you can also eat it.
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Get A Second OpinionBenefits
- Good for fertility- A study showed that they became sexually active when bamboo seeds were fed to female rats in a way that each female rat gave birth to about 800 offspring during the bamboo flowering season. This explains that bamboo rice made from its seeds can alter chromosomal levels and also enhance human fertility. Bamboo oil derived from bamboo seeds can also aid in the treatment of endocrine and metabolic disorders, the primary cause of female infertility.
- Bamboo rice contains a good concentration of linoleic acid, a potent antioxidant, which may prevent diabetes. Polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS, as we know, can cause glucose sensitivity and increase the risk of diabetes, so ingestion of bamboo rice in women with PCOS can help enhance ovulatory functions and prevent diabetes from occurring.
- Promoting bone health -The primary cause of chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis is inflammation. It is an illness that affects the bones and the joints. Bamboo includes a large number of bioactive compounds considered to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, such as flavonoids, alkaloids, and polysaccharides. Inflammatory cytokines can be decreased and joint pain, rheumatoid and back pain can be regulated.
- Cholesterol reduction -Bamboo rice produces high fiber and phytosterols, a plant sterol that is similar to human body cholesterol. By blocking their absorption, phytosterols lower bad cholesterol (LDL) concentrations. The fiber in bamboo rice also helps provide a feeling of fullness and decreases cholesterol.
- Blood pressure control -The primary cause of blood pressure is hormone issues and elevated cholesterol. Because of its antioxidative activity, bamboo rice is effective in treating endocrine disorders while reducing cholesterol levels due to the presence of fiber. This can help to decrease artery thickening and regulate blood pressure.
- Boosts mood- Bamboo-derived products, including their effects on nervous system dysfunction, have a wide range of protective effects. It is understood that brown rice, derived from bamboo seeds, has mood-regulating properties. It helps to release serotonin and dopamine, two essential neurotransmitters that help raise mood and enhance brain function.
- Maintains dental health- The protective effect of vitamin B6 against dental caries is addressed in a report. Vitamin B6 is abundant in bamboo rice. This essential vitamin can help protect the teeth from bacteria-induced decay or breakdown and avoid dental caries or cavities. In order to protect the teeth, vitamin B6 also helps.
- Useful for cough -A large amount of phosphorus in bamboo rice can help relieve respiratory symptoms such as sore throat and irritating cough. It is also understood that phosphorus has antiasthmatic properties and can help alleviate chronic asthma symptoms.
- Prevents vitamin deficiency- Bamboo rice contains essential B vitamins, especially B6 vitamins (pyridoxine). This vitamin is needed for red blood cell formation, nerve function, and cognitive growth. Vitamin B6 deficiency can cause anemia, seizures, Alzheimer's, and cognitive disorders in both adults and children. Consumption of bamboo rice can help avoid the aforementioned conditions due to the presence of vitamin B6.
- Rich in proteins - Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. The presence of amino acids in bamboo rice will help prevent this nutrient deficiency and related disorders such as liver fat, improper growth and development, skin, diseases of the hair and nails, and inflammation.
- Promotes digestive health - Fibre helps improve digestive health by serving as a fuel for the guts. It facilitates the passage of material in the gut and bulks the feces, benefiting the gastrointestinal system in turn. Bamboo rice is filled with fiber to boost digestion, so it can be part of a balanced diet.
- High Level of Phosphorus - Bamboo seeds contain about 218 mg of phosphorus in them, which for any rice is quite a commendable number.
- Bones and teeth formation.
- It also defines how the body uses fats and carbohydrates.
- In order to sustain the development and repair vital organs and tissues, the body helps to accumulate more protein.
- Combines B vitamins to ensure normal kidney function, muscle contraction, heart rhythm, and nerve signaling.
Can you give kids bamboo rice?
There are so many health benefits that it has proved to be a very effective supplement for children, mostly because of its high nutritional value. The rice supports children in the following ways.
- This makes the infant energetic with high levels of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.
- It detoxifies the essential organs and helps to increase the functioning of each organ.
- Appetite increases and indigestion heals.
- It relieves pain and prevents the development of some kind of bone disease.
- Assists in the growth and strengthening of bones and muscles
- Assists in the growth of teeth and preserve oral health
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Get A Second OpinionFrequently Asked Questions
The protein content of Bamboo Rice is greater than that of both rice and wheat. Due to the higher protein content, daily use can help to control joint pain, back pain and rheumatic pain. It can reduce levels of cholesterol. A good source of vitamin B6 is the Bamboo Rice
Bamboo rice resembles paddy rice but tastes more like wheat. As it takes several years for a bamboo tree to flower, it is not widely available. Compared to other varieties, it is known to have a low glycemic index and is, thus, suitable for diabetics. It is rich in proteins, too, and contains no fat.
Bamboo rice is a short grain of white rice infused with pure fresh bamboo juice. This commodity is all-natural. It is pale green when cooked and appears to be somewhat moist, allowing the grains to bind together.
Yes, it is safe to eat bamboo rice during pregnancy, very beneficial for pregnant women with vitamin deficiency.
The unique rice that is grown from a dying bamboo shoot is bamboo rice. It flowers into a special collection of rice seeds, known as bamboo rice when the bamboo shoot breathes its last. Their source of income as well as their daily food consumption is harvesting and gathering this rice.
Since the high fiber content also reduces bad cholesterol levels and regulates blood pressure levels, it reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease.